Their existence lives only in memories: sporadic rehearsals at the pianist's home (a widow who lived a couple of blocks away), several performances at church suppers, and one evening at a retirement home where several residents would not let the group leave.
The de-facto leader of the group, one of my dad's best friends, had to announce several times,"now this really will have to be our last number." I was about 14 or 15 at the time, and that proclamation was music to my ears; I was only tagging along to these performances and my Santana, Jethro Tull and Alice Cooper inclinations did not mesh well with "How Great Thou Art."
Sort of ironic that I can now listen to "Abraxas" or "Aqualung" anytime I want, and have absolutely no inclination to do so.
But I would give anything to hear those old ladies on that summer night in Sonestown, Pa (I think), asking for one more song. And then hearing it.
In honor of that on this Sunday morning, I post the clip below. My dad's group would never do anything this uptempo, this rocking, this.....interesting. But the look is right, the time period is right, and it reminds me of the happiness my dad seemed to have when singing. If fact, the lead singer (Happy Edwards) bears a slight remembrance to him.
Bonus on this clip: at 2:06, piano player Joe Moscheo, who went on to play with Elvis, lets out a great and spontaneous "Ahhhhhhhh" when the moment grabs him.
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